Capturing LIfe's Special Moments through the Lens of a Camera

That's what she does.   She captures the moments through her camera.  And she is good at it!

Last week we went with her and the rest of the family to Hamstra Gardens between DeMotte and Wheatfield.  Neither Gary nor I knew that they existed and decided that they were the best kept secret for photo shoots in northern Indiana.

The weather was great, the grounds were spacious, and the settings were perfect for each and every shot that Hilary wanted.

Now one might think that a maternity photo shoot, a set of pictures to mark a little boy turning 4 and another set for a little girl's 5th birthday coming up would require a more varied setting than what was offered here.  Wrong.  "Something for everyone" was definitely applicable for this afternoon's shoot.

Pictures speak louder than words, so here are my favorites. 




Tessa is turning 5 in November.  She is spunky.  She is sweet.  She has the most beautiful blue eyes and the cutest smile ever. I love this picture so much, I made it my screen saver on the upstairs computer so I can see it every time I turn it on. I just know she is smiling too!


Tessa is spunky and fun.  She loves bright colors and fancy patterns.  She melts my heart each time she smiles at me and says "I love you, Mamaw!"  Such a sweetie!


I really like this picture, because I just do, but I also think of the prep work for this shot.  Tessa was scared to sit on the post.  Hilary was trying to move her and situate her just so for the shot, and Tessa was scared she would fall off.  So Papaw put her there, stood by her, just out of range, and told her he would catch her.  She was still scared, but she did flash the smile for the shot, which is one of my favorites.

Then there is Cooper.  He just turned 4 and started pre-school this year.  

 

He is adventurous, he loves baseball and all kinds of sports, and he doesn't like cats.   



This is my 'behind the scenes' picture for Cooper:



As we were walking around Hamstra Gardens with Owen in the stoller, I spotted Cooper lying on his stomach on the bridge.  He was looking at Auntie who was also lying on her stomach on the bridge, camera focused on him, looking up occasionally to smile and coax him into different facial expressions.  If I had had my phone handy and had been quicker, I could have captured that moment with both of them lying on the bridge, facing each other, laughing and enjoying the fun.  I knew this picture would be a good one!

His whole world will be changing soon.  His status in the family will go from 'only child with all the attention' to 'Big Brother who must now share Mommy and Daddy with the Little Sister.'



Which brings us to these shots----



There is something about watching your first born child with her first child and knowing how much the world for both of them will change.  Just like I know how my baby feels with her baby growing up and becoming a little boy, more independent, and thinking that this is it.  The last one.  I love watching my daughters be mothers, if that makes any sense.  Hilary captures moments so well, and this one is a favorite shot of one of those moments between a mother and her son.


And everything will be fine!


These nine months have flown by, yet they seem to have dragged too.  While it seems like forever ago that Megan and Matt told us that there would be an addition to their family (Valentine's Day) suddenly it seemed like it was time for Lynnlee to arrive!  Maybe it was because Gary and I were gone for most of March. Then Mom died in May and the summer was spent in trips to Ohio.  Then school started (too early) and schedules were changed again, family weddings either happened or have been anticipated, and now the birth date is close!

Once again, Hilary has captured the moments of anticipation....


 My favorite ^^ - and I was standing by Hilary when she was taking this one too!


Such a good picture of Mom and Dad in anticipation of the new baby




My first thought when I saw this walk around the pond was "I can never walk on that because I would be dizzy because of no railings and be scared I would fall off"  Then Tessa dashed across it and I  had to follow her...and I didn't fall...and I wasn't dizzy....but I did move fast!  I was happy to see this picture because the setting was so pretty and the shot of the two of them is just perfect.

Hilary has a special talent for capturing moments through the lens of a camera, moments that are very special for families and for family history as well.  When I think of 'having an eye' for shots, for beauty, for love, for connections, for catching personality, I know that it takes a special person with special talents to be able to do that.  I don't have it.  Hilary does.  

And with this wonderful family of ours, I know that so many more special moments are yet to be captured!  Can't wait!